A Very Large Tattered Boro Furoshiki: Hand and Machine Stitching

This lovely, messy and delightful textile is a very large furoshiki which is a traditional wrapping cloth.

The cotton base cloth is commercially produced and it is stitched and finished using a sewing machine.

The wonderful pile-up of patches are freely applied, some stitched by hand, some stitched by machine--but the sheer variety of them, in terms of color, texture and size, makes for a beautiful visual experience. And the beauty is completely unintended.

As be seen in some of the accompanying detail photos here some areas breakage of the furoshiki are not patched over so there are some stray flaps of cotton base cloth. As well, there are some nicks and holes on the furoshiki which are to be expected since this cloth was used for hauling loads.

A luxuriously large-sized textile from old Japan, this furoshiki is a visual delight.